Change the Name

The Washington Redskins football team cited money as the problem for not changing their name but that can be very hard to believe after the Washington Bullets basketball team changed their name to the Washington Wizards in 1995-96. The team changed their name after the very high murder rate in the District of Columbia claimed many young African American lives. So the Redskins issue of money is now null and void with the Wizards claim to National fame. Of course Michael Jordan being on the team does not hurt their new cause.

Let's backtrack to the very beginning of this on going debate.

The battle began at Dartmouth College, now Dartmouth University. Their name at the time (Indians) was changed to "THE BIG GREEN" in 1968-1969, after a long protracted campus demonstration by Native Americans, Dartmouth students, and school Administrators, with the help of the National Congress of American Indians. The change occurred rather peacefully.

Three years later on the West Coast, Stanford University (Indians) followed in the footsteps of Dartmouth, changing their name to "THE CARDINAL" or "TREE". The students, administration, and teachers were in admiration of the Native American Protest on Alcatraz Island in 1972-74. This protest on Alcatraz Island reminded America about the sad and destructive situation of most Native American citizens.

Here are some of the psychological and physical effects of using negative Native American mascots, nicknames, and logos.
1) The misconceived, and self-serving concept of having Native American mascots in these American houses of learning is dehumanizing and perpetuates inaccurate stereotypes. Native American children are learning that their ancestors were wild and untamed humans. This war-like violent behavior is often betrayed by most American media. Just watch any old black and white cowboy movie. We all know who the heroes will be.
2) The United States Department of Justice stated that Native Americans are twice as likely to be a victim of violent crime than African or Asian Americans. Overall, poor people in America are impacted more by violent crimes.
3) Most sports figures or teams have their own rituals, battle cries, maybe even imitating real battles and real wars. At the beginning of every University of Illinois football game, or a Florida State University football game a male dresses in Native American warrior gear and rides out on his trusty horse. The Seminole, or Illini, rider gallops across the field with a flaming spear in his hand throwing it into the ground at the 50-yard line, thus signaling the beginning of the game. This ritual is done time and time again. This act perpetuates the stereotype of violent savage behavior by Native Americans.
4) The cartoon-like characterization of mascots, i.e. Chief Wahoo of the baseball Cleveland Indians. This mechanism is well known and often used during times of war to dehumanize an enemy. The result allows the portrayer to trivialize the concerns of the one being portrayed and simultaneously helps protect self-esteem by relieving guilt feelings. This was done also to African Americans after the Civil War, in books, songs, and poems throughout post Civil War America. The examples portray African Americans as shiftless, shady, and lazy people, Native Americans as wild beasts that cannot be tamed, Asian Americans as very smart. These are all stereotypes used for mascots, nicknames and logos.
5) Even the concept of having mascots or nicknames may be, in reality, an ego defense. Thus, the honoring of Native Americans, African Americans, or Asian Americans could protect one from facing the real facts of past genocidal horrors inflicted on the very individuals they are honoring.
6) Having Native or African American mascots freezes time in a period one is more conformable with, never wanting to know, or never wanting to see the truth of past historical events. America has continuously run away from historical facts while trying to sugar coat horrendous events.
7) The lack of political power, monetary power, and social power to demand the removal of these mascots maintain the status quo of institutionalized racism at college campuses and at the professional levels.

As a Native American watching teams like The San Diego Aztecs, The Chattanooga Moccasins, The University of Utah Utes, and The Central Mich. Chippewas made me very proud because they represented one tribe, one nation, unlike the Golden State Warriors, Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, and Washington Redskins.

The future looks promising in dismantling a lot of Native American mascots throughout America. The University of North Dakota FIGHTING SIOUX is currently taking steps to remove their logo from all sports uniforms. UND has been known to have a very good hockey team going to the "Frozen Four" college hockey final four many times. The Marquette University Warriors in 1972 abandoned the "Willie Wampum" mascot and in 1994-95 season changed their name to "Golden Eagles". The Saint John's Redman also changed their name to Red Storm in 1990, dropping their Indian logo on every sports uniform. All of these fine universities and colleges are making a good faith effort to respect and honor Native Americans, leaving me to question why the professional teams cannot follow suit?

The Atlanta Braves dropped Chief KnokaHoma from their program in 1980. Chief KnokaHoma would dance after every Atlanta Braves home run, but fans of the Braves still maintain the Tomahawk Chop. Again being insensitive to Native Americans.

African Americans, Latino Americans, and Asian Americans need to help our Native American brothers and sisters in this battle for respect and honor.

Please read about the past sports mascots and help (AISTM) American Indian Sports Team Mascots and The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). Some of the information in this article comes from both NCAI and AISTM web sites and I would like to thank them for the use of this information.

THAT IS THE GRAY LINE !